Market Economy, Cultural Capital and Gender Issues in the Dao Community in Northwest Vietnam

Abstract: In the Dao community, gender is both a factor and is governed by the traditional socio-economic structure. The development of the market economy has changed the traditional socio-economic structure and changed the gender issue under a new structure. And cultural capital is an important factor in reshaping gender relations in the process of socio-economic restructuring of the Dao. Based on years of fieldwork in the Dao community in Sa Pa district, Lao Cai province, the article wants to emphasize that gender equality is a difference that is respected, and a factor that contributes to creating equality gender in the Dao is cultural capital and the development of the market economy. Therefore, gender issues also need to be considered along with the change of the socio-economic structure of the Dao. 

Key words: market economy in mountainous areas; cultural capital; gender equality; Dao people; feminism

JEL codes: Z1